Pool Permit in Nashville, Tennessee
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before installing any new above-ground or in-ground residential pool
Issued byMetro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A building permit is required for new residential pool installations in Nashville. Applicants must submit a site plan and a receipt for a pool alarm as required by Tennessee state law. Barrier and fencing requirements are governed by the International Swimming Pool Code; confirm specific dimensions with the Codes Department at 615-862-6500.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before installing any new above-ground or in-ground residential pool
What a pool permit costs in Nashville
How Nashville compares in Tennessee
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools, measured by the depth of the pool |
| Nashvillethis page | Permit required | Not specified |
| Williamson County | It depends | Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. |
How to apply in Nashville
In Nashville, a residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect.
What most pool permit applications include:
- Pool and spa design and construction fall under the residential code chapter that folds in the swimming pool and spa code, and permit review checks plans against that chapter (IRC R326).
- For Nashville, the site plan must show pool equipment such as pumps, filters, and heaters set back at least 36 inches from the outside of the required barrier (ISPSC 305.2.9).
- For an in-ground pool, engineered structural plans covering the shell and reinforcing steel, with the responsible structural engineer's license information, are a standard part of the submittal (per official pool submittal checklists).
- For Nashville, a barrier plan identifying the fence, pool structure, or dwelling wall that will enclose the pool must be submitted and must comply with the code's barrier chapter (ISPSC 305).
- Electrical plans must show the pool's equipotential bonding design, since the shell, perimeter surfaces, and metal fittings within 5 feet of the water must all tie into a common bonding grid (NEC 680.26).
- For Nashville, the electrical plan must also show a disconnecting means for the pool equipment that is readily accessible and within sight of the equipment (NEC 680.13).
General submittal guidance from 2021 IRC R326 (adopting the ISPSC), ISPSC 2021 Section 305, and NEC 2020 Article 680. Source. Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department sets the exact checklist for Nashville.
Where to apply in Nashville:
Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department
- 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210
- Phone: 615-862-6500
- Email: codes.permitting@nashville.gov
Pool Permit in Nashville compared with nearby Tennessee localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Tennessee schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | Permit required | Not specified | Billed as a residential building permit at $5 per $1,000 of valuation plus a $25 zoning... | |
| Memphis | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools, measured by the depth of the pool | POOL OR RETAINING WALL $5.00/1,000 (NO MAX) with a $70.00 minimum, per the 2022 Fee... | |
| Williamson County | It depends | Swimming pools designed or able to hold water more than 30 inches deep in unincorporated Williamson County require a building permit; pools designed to hold 30 inches of water or less, temporary pools, above-ground pools with no permanent filter system or decking, and pools not left up year-round are exempt from the permit requirement. | No pool-specific line |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Nashville, pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
- In Nashville: before gunite or shotcrete is sprayed, the inspector checks the rebar against the engineered plans and confirms the equipotential bonding wire is stubbed out and tied into the steel, since it will be buried in concrete afterward (NEC 680.26).
- In Nashville: a bonding inspection separately confirms coping, decking, ladders, handrail cups, and any other metal within 5 feet of the water are tied to the bonding grid, and it must pass before coping is installed (NEC 680.26).
- In Nashville: a temporary barrier at least 4 feet high must enclose the site from the moment excavation starts until the permanent barrier is finished, and inspectors check for it throughout construction (ISPSC 305.1.1).
- In Nashville: a pre-plaster inspection confirms the circulation equipment's electrical work is installed and all bonding is complete before the pool's interior finish goes on (NEC 680.26).
- In Nashville: at final inspection the permanent barrier is checked against the code's requirements and the equipment and cover-mechanism bonding must be complete before the pool can be filled and used (ISPSC 305, NEC 680.26).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Nashville permit portal or by phone at 615-862-6500.
Inspection sequence from NEC 2020 Article 680.26 (equipotential bonding) and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Pool Permit checklist for Nashville
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before installing any new above-ground or in-ground residential pool.
- Budget the fee. Billed as a residential building permit at $5 per $1,000 of valuation plus a $25 zoning fee and 10% codes tech fee, with a separate plumbing permit ($75 minimum plus $11 per fixture) since pools are listed as a plumbing fixture classification, per the Metro Codes fee schedule (Dec 2025). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Nashville, a residential pool permit application covers both construction and safety: a scaled site plan, structural plans for the pool, a barrier plan showing how the pool will be enclosed, and an electrical plan covering bonding and the equipment disconnect. Start at the Nashville permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department. Phone: 615-862-6500. Address: 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210.
- Plan for inspections. In Nashville, pool inspections track the concrete pour: the steel and bonding grid are checked before gunite or shotcrete goes in, bonding is checked again before decking is poured, and the permanent barrier and remaining electrical work are checked at final before the pool can be filled and used.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Permitting activity in Nashville
In 2024, Nashville authorized permits for 6,799 new residential housing units (2,662 single-family, 4,137 in multi-family buildings), valued at $1.2B, down from 11,158 the year before. That works out to about 10.1 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 671,295.
About Nashville
Nashville has about 333,074 housing units. The median home is valued at $383,100, against a median household income of $75,197. About 53% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1985.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a pool permit in Nashville?
- A building permit is required for new residential pool installations in Nashville. Applicants must submit a site plan and a receipt for a pool alarm as required by Tennessee state law. Barrier and fencing requirements are governed by the International Swimming Pool Code; confirm specific dimensions with the Codes Department at 615-862-6500. Always confirm with the Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department before starting.
- How much does a pool permit cost in Nashville?
- Billed as a residential building permit at $5 per $1,000 of valuation plus a $25 zoning fee and 10% codes tech fee, with a separate plumbing permit ($75 minimum plus $11 per fixture) since pools are listed as a plumbing fixture classification, per the Metro Codes fee schedule (Dec 2025). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a pool permit in Nashville?
- You can apply through the Nashville permit portal or contact the Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a pool permit themselves in Nashville?
- Under Tennessee law (T.C.A. 62-6-103; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-23-.01(1)(i), -.05(3), -.05(4)(b)2.; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-02-01-.05(2)(a)): Tennessee lets a homeowner act as their own builder. Under T.C.A. 62-6-103, as the State Fire Marshal's Office explains it, an owner may construct a single residence once every two years for personal use without a contractor's license, so long as the home is not for resale, lease, or rent, and anyone the homeowner hires whose portion of the work is $25,000 or more must be a licensed contractor. In state permit areas the owner pulls a property owner's permit, limited by rule to one per 24 month period, and the work is subject to the same inspections and fees as a contractor's job; proof of licensure is waived at permit purchase only when the owner personally performs the work. For electrical work, a homeowner may wire their own residence only after obtaining a residential property owner's electrical permit, which covers only the applicant and immediate family, does not authorize help from anyone unlicensed, and is limited to one per 12 month period unless the owner lost the home to fire or windstorm. Confirm how Nashville applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Nashville
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Billed as a residential building permit at $5 per $1,000 of total valuation plus a $25... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Flat minimum of $75 per permit with itemized add-on charges for circuits, panels... |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | No permit fee |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Flat minimum of $75 per gas/mechanical permit plus $32 per 100,000 Btuh or fraction for... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Uses the same residential building permit rate as decks, $5 per $1,000 of valuation plus... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Flat minimum of $75 per permit plus $11 per plumbing fixture, per Metro Code 16.12.220... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | Roof work beyond normal maintenance (repairs over 33 percent of roof area) is billed as... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | accessory structures 100 sq ft or larger require a permit; structures under 100 sq ft may not require a permit | Sheds of 100 sq ft or more are billed as a residential building permit at $5 per $1,000... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | $75 minimum permit fee |
Pool Permit in other Tennessee localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Nashville documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this pool permit page for Nashville was verified. 2 official sources: nashville.gov, nashville.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Pool Permit requirements across Tennessee localities
Tennessee rule changes
- Metro Nashville posts a current codes fee schedule, replacing the 2010 sheet
BL2022-1215 (Metro Fee Schedule Legislation) ·